Tips and tricks?

[telectrix]

a good tip malcolm, but technology has given us the CK armourslice. makes it easy except for larger SWA sizes.

 

[hightower]

For earth or brown sleeving I wrap a length of each through a belt loop on my trousers. Saves fiddling about in pockets full of everything else.

 

[Pete999]

KNIPEX - The Pliers Company. - Products

Get some of these beasties, not cheap but they are crimpers, cutters, long nosed pliers and cable croppers all in one

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

a good tip malcolm, but technology has given us the CK armourslice. makes it easy except for larger SWA sizes.

Junior hack saw and a Stanley knife for me

 

[telectrix]

Junior hack saw and a Stanley knife for me

always was for me till i tried the CK armourslice. still use stanley knife as well

 

[Simonslimline]

Cant beat a hacksaw and stanley knife for swa, just make sure your blades are sharp on both.

If ever in doubt as to how a circuit works, draw it out.

Oh and dont work for bodgers who carry out bad practices, they are not worth it.

 

[Beavstro]

Yep, got one of those knippex pliers Pete, they are a massive time saver for most jobs, except trimming cable ties.
id also recommend them!

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

I'll have to ask santa for a pair

 

[Paul.M]

always was for me till i tried the CK armourslice. still use stanley knife as well

They work up to 95mm 4 core SWA btw anything after that it's a hacksaw.



Another tip.... When cutting the steel on SWA, use a cable tie at the point you want to cut. Straight edge every time so it sits nicely on the gland and makes a good contact for Earth reasons.

 

[happysteve]

When chopping floorboards to get access below: good idea to isolate the whole installation, not just the circuit you're working on. Many old houses have notched joists with cables laid on top. If you're lucky, you won't die and you will be able to repair the cable using a MF joint box. If you're not lucky, it might be the last thing you do.

On the subject of cutting floorboards: multi-tools are great for blind cuts and have very thin blades, so you only cut the board you need, not "a little bit of the ones next to it" as well (circular saw). On the other hand, you can set the depth very nicely with a circular saw.

 

[happysteve]

I'll have to ask santa for a pair

Sorry, just read this post in isolation and it made me giggle. My first thought was: "Can't you grow your own?!"

:leaving:

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

When chopping floorboards to get access below: good idea to isolate the whole installation, not just the circuit you're working on. Many old houses have notched joists with cables laid on top. If you're lucky, you won't die and you will be able to repair the cable using a MF joint box. If you're not lucky, it might be the last thing you do.

On the subject of cutting floorboards: multi-tools are great for blind cuts and have very thin blades, so you only cut the board you need, not "a little bit of the ones next to it" as well (circular saw). On the other hand, you can set the depth very nicely with a circular saw.

Most tools are double insulated chop up all the cables you want
Really good tip though, however we tend to use a 110 fein for chopping boards

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

Yep, got one of those knippex pliers Pete, they are a massive time saver for most jobs, except trimming cable ties.
id also recommend them!

Oh! Reminded me of another tip.
For trimming cable ties use your Stanley knife. Makes a much cleaner job, no sharp edges like when you use Snips.

 

[malcolmsanford]

a good tip malcolm, but technology has given us the CK armourslice. makes it easy except for larger SWA sizes.

Next you will be telling me there is a tool for striping pyro and not a pair of side cutters ............you young un's and your new fangled tools.......................:hurray:

 

[telectrix]

young -un, moi?